Recognizing that wild animals and plants are an \u201cirreplaceable part of the natural systems of the Earth,\u201d the United Nations General Assembly today urged its Member States to take decisive steps to prevent, combat and eradicate the illegal trade in wildlife, \u201con both the supply and demand sides.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through the new resolution, the Assembly expressed serious concern over the steady rise in the level of rhino poaching and the alarmingly high levels of killings of elephants in Africa, which threaten those species with local extinction and, in some cases, with global extinction.<\/p>\n
\u201cIllegal wildlife trafficking not only threatens species and ecosystems; it affects the livelihoods of local communities and diminishes touristic attractions. It compromises efforts towards poverty eradication and the achievement of sustainable development,\u201d said the President of the 69th session of the Assembly, in remarks read by Vice-President Denis G. Antoine.<\/p>\n
Adopting a consensus text resolution, the 193-Member body encouraged Governments to adopt effective measures to prevent and counter the serious problem of crimes such as illicit trafficking in wildlife and wildlife products, including flora and fauna and poaching.<\/p>\n
The resolution suggests \u201cstrengthening the legislation necessary for the prevention, investigation and prosecution of such illegal trade, as well as strengthening enforcement and criminal justice responses, acknowledging that the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime can provide valuable technical assistance in this regard.\u201d<\/p>\n
The General Assembly also calls upon Member States to make illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora involving organized criminal groups a \u201cserious crime.\u201d<\/p>\n
Member States are equally encouraged to harmonize their judicial, legal and administrative regulations to support the exchange of evidence, as well as to establish \u201cnational-level inter-agency wildlife crime task forces.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe adoption of this resolution today and its effective implementation will be crucial in our collective efforts to combat illicit trafficking in wildlife worldwide,\u201d adds the President\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n